Saturday, January 24, 2015

D&S Duos Book 1 combines two of Lisabet Sarai's
hottest BDSM short stories into one sizzling package. In "Body
Electric", a professor of engineering charms his female colleague into
experiments on the erotic effects of electricity. In "Limits", an
established Master/slave couple push their relationship to next level of trust
- blood sports. Also includes a searing excerpt from Lisabet's BDSM erotic
thriller Bangkok Noir.

EXCERPT:

"You! Come over here." I started, my meditations
interrupted by a rich, unfamiliar voice. The female crowd around Moresby had
dispersed, and sure enough, he was beckoning to me.

Rude, I thought, but I obeyed him anyway.

"I don't know you, do I?" He smiled down at me. My
brief irritation at his lack of manners melted away in the heat of that smile.

"I'm Colette D'Arpignay. I just joined the Department of
Languages and Literature this semester."

"Oh, right! The Sex Professor!"

I felt the blood rising in my cheeks. "Oh dear! I didn't
realize that sobriquet had spread outside my own department."

"Never mind. It doesn't hurt to
have a bit of a racy reputation. Makes you more interesting." He scanned
my body, not even trying to disguise his lascivious interest. "The
question is, do you deserve it?"

Coming on February 6th –
D&S Duos Book 2!

Brief Bio

LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other
genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels
includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from
mildly kinky to intensely perverse. Learn more at http://www.lisabetsarai.com.

When Crystal Wilson gets roped into a wild, girls-only
weekend at a rowdy “stud” ranch, the last thing she wants to do is tangle with
a bunch of half-naked men pretending to be cowboys. But when she meets Ford
McCoy, she can’t help but be attracted to his dark, dominant, gruff appeal.

What she doesn’t know is that Ford isn’t a stripper. He’s
her friend’s overprotective brother, there to make sure his little sister
doesn’t get into any trouble. She’s surprised at the passion that flares
between them. In fact, what she has with Ford might just be what she’s been
looking for all along.

It’s a pity the sexy rancher isn’t in the market for a city
girl.

READ AN EXCERPT

She shouldn’t have taken the shot.

For God’s sake, what had she been thinking? She’d been on a
low-carb, low-calorie diet—with no alcohol—for a month. Not because Blaine had
called her fat. That had nothing to do with it. She just wanted… She just
wanted to do it for herself. Yeah.

It wasn’t like he was coming back or anything. And it wasn’t
like she’d let him.

But it would be awesome to run into him somewhere, say the
bank or the coffee shop or that bar on Grill Street, looking like a vixen. She
only had ten pounds to go to hit vixen weight. It was a helluva ten pounds.
They didn’t seem to want to budge.

And damn, she really wanted something to eat.

And damn, the tequila had hit her hard.

So hard she’d left the weekend kickoff party—although, to be
honest, she’d wanted to leave since the pumping music and the grinding bodies
and the strobing lights were starting to make her eyelid twitch. As down-home
country as the bedrooms were at this ranch-slash-resort, they sure knew how to
throw a bacchanal at night.

It was pleasanter out here behind the house, staring up at
the stars and enjoying the kiss of a soft breeze. There were no sounds but the
rustle of the leaves in the trees, the crickets and the occasional croak of a
frog.

Her head hardly spun at all.

She leaned back and closed her eyes and imagined how amazing
it would feel to be twenty-one again and interested in those kinds of men. To
rub against a hard chest and feel his thickly muscled arms hold her close.

But none of those boys had ignited a flicker of interest in
her. They’d all been rubbed smooth. Although several of them, and one in
particular, had made it clear he wanted to dance for her.

It was a damn shame.

It would have been fun.

What kind of man would she want, if she wanted a man? Tall,
for sure. Broad. Hard. Rough. Maybe a little wicked twinkle in his eye.

A door slammed to her right and her eyes flew open. She
blinked as a man strode toward her through the shadows. Her heart lurched and
the breath caught in her throat. Yes, her heart whispered. Yes. That was the
kind of man she wanted.

He was big, and broad and roped with muscle. His stride was
sure, determined and powerful. He wore boots that kicked up dust with every
step, and chaps and even a Stetson. He had high cheekbones and a well-formed
brow. His square chin was spattered with a dark shadow. His shirt was buttoned.

He looked like a real cowboy.

He looked like a man.

This guy could dance for her. No problem. She’d love to have
him rub himself all over her—

His steps stalled as he caught sight of her.

“Well, hey there, cowboy,” she purred. It was probably the
tequila purring, but he didn’t seem to care. He peered into the shadows.

She did him the favor of moving into the light. She liked
that his nostrils flared and his throat worked. He touched the brim of his hat.
“Ma’am.”

Ooh. Ma’am.

Sexy. This stripper knew how to play a role.

“You’re late,” she said.

He blinked. “Late?”

“The party’s already started.” She sidled up to him—again,
the tequila; normally she would never sidle up to anybody—and put her hand on
his chest. The muscles rippled in response and something inside her rippled as
well. It was probably her womb. Crying out for a visitor.

It had been a while, after all.

She leaned closer, against him, and it was good. She nestled
her nose in his beautiful neck and took a whiff. And daham, he smelled sinful.
Wicked. Alluring.

“What is that fragrance?” she asked. She needed to know.
Wanted to bathe in it.

He chuckled; the sound rumbled through her. “Soap.”

“Mmm. Yummy.” She scudded her palm over his chest, his thick
arms and down to his trim waist. He held steady as she explored, staring at her
through insanely thick lashes. It should be illegal for a man to have lashes
like that. His features were locked and hard. A muscle ticked in his cheek.
“You’re hard,” she murmured. Oh, God, he was.

“Yes, ma’am. I am.” This he said in a low purr, one that
gave a sizzle of double entendre to the words.

Something cracked inside her. It was probably the remainder
of her pickled restraint. He was the hottest man she’d ever seen, much less
touched. His heat soaked into her and melted her, liquefied her.

She couldn’t stop her roving exploration and wouldn’t have anyway.
Her hand drifted lower. His body tightened, his breath hitched as she reached
his belt. And then she found him.

Her knees locked. Her pulse rocketed through her veins.
Because Jesus God, he wasn’t just hard, he was rock hard.

“Nice.” A whisper, all she could manage. She gave him a
little pump.

He hissed in a breath and said through his teeth, “Yeah.
Nice.” His hand came to her waist. He stroked her bare skin beneath the hem of
her tee. His calluses scraped her sanity.

“You are the most authentic of all of them,” she murmured,
kissing his neck.

He grunted and pulled her closer, cupping her ass, measuring
it with a squeeze. “Most authentic?”

“Of all the strippers.”

He stilled for a moment and she sensed he was about to pull
away, which she could not allow. He was far too delicious to give up. So she
nibbled his chin. She loved the bristles of his stubble. And he tasted…like a
man. More man than she’d ever had.

She released her hold on him and pressed her hips against
his, wrapped herself around him, hooking her leg around his. The feel of his
body, hot and hard, plastered against hers from chest to groin, made her mouth
water.

He allowed it, but then he did pull back. But it wasn’t far,
and it was so he could stare down at her face, so she didn’t mind. His breath
washed over her and she had the sudden compulsion to taste his mouth. Not a
need or a whim. A compulsion.

“You think I’m the most authentic of all the strippers?” She
had no idea why he was smiling, but she liked his smile. Especially the dent
that appeared on his left cheek. Everything about him pushed each and every one
of her buttons. They were rusty buttons, but he pushed them.

“You are. You really do it better than any of them. You sure
look like a real cowboy. Baby, you could rope and tie me…”

“Sounds…interesting.”

She stroked his back, reveling in the bulge of his muscles
as she made her way down to his ass, which she squeezed as well. “And you’re
really well built.”

“Thank you?”

“For a stripper.”

“Right.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you gave me a lap dance at all.”

“You…wouldn’t?”

“Not at all.”

“I’m…flattered.”

“Would you like to?”

His brow arched. It was a striking, manly brow. “Like to?”

“Give me a lap dance?”

“You have no idea.”

She liked the tenor of his voice, despite the fact there was
a laugh hidden in it. She raked her nails along the back of his neck and he
shivered. So she walked her fingers into his hair, ignoring that she tipped his
Stetson clean off.

God, his hair was soft. Dark curls. Silky and thick.

Their gazes locked. His smile faded. Tension hummed between
them. Then she tugged his head down and took his lips.

COWBOY 12 PACK

A COWBOY'S SEDUCTION - Award-Winning Author Cynthia D'Alba - Sparks fly when an
exhausted cowboy, on a forced tropical vacation, meets an uptight accountant in
a bikini. As the seduction game begins, two weeks never looked so short.

SADIE AND HER COWBOY - USA Today Bestselling Author Paige Tyler - A beautiful
ranch owner hires an infamous gunslinger to protect her against a ruthless
cattle baron, but risks losing everything when she falls for the sexy hired
gun

THE BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND TEST - NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Elle
James - Skeptical billionaire takes a risk on a friend's dating service and
finds the cowgirl of his dreams, only he has to convince her he's her perfect
match.

HER UNIFORM COWBOY - Donna Michaels - Texas Guardsman never planned his
attraction to a curvy, military-hating Pennsylvanian, or saddling her with his
stress issues. Will the town’s newest resident support him, or abandon him like
others in his past?

CHASE AND SEDUCTION - USA Today Bestselling Author Randi Alexander - Country
music superstar Chase Tanner is determined to seduce screenplay writer Reno
Linden. She risks the plunge into Chase’s arms, but will their attraction
survive the glitz and stress of fame?

THE COWBOY WINS A BRIDE - NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Cora Seton
–Jamie Lassiter just made the bet of his life—He’s got six weeks to prove to
Claire Cruz he’s the man for her, or pay for her round-the-world trip.

THE HARDER THEY FALL - Beth Williamson - Cowboy Hank Beltane has no idea what's
in store for him when he tries to seduce the stubborn, beautiful and sexy as
hell rodeo owner TJ Maguire.

THE REAL MCCOY - NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author Sabrina York - At a
wild, girls-only weekend at a rowdy “stud” ranch, she meets the gruff, dominant
man of her dreams. It’s too bad the sexy stripper is only a pretend cowboy…or
is he?

BADASS - Amazon Bestselling Author Sable Hunter - Isaac McCoy - Badass Isaac
McCoy, as at home on a Harley as he is on a horse, is in love with the
preacher's daughter— the angel of Kerr County—and that will never do.

COWBOYS NEVER FOLD – Award-Winning Author Lexi Post – When a cowboy honors a
promise by working at a nudist resort, he discovers that to win the sexy
owner's heart he must go all-in, which could mean baring more than his
soul.

CUPID'S COWBOY - Amazon Bestselling Author Becky McGraw - Struggling country
singer is struck by cupids arrow when delivering a breakup singing telegram on
Valentine's Day to a beautiful music exec who could make all his dreams come
true.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Gothic Saint Denis undergoes restoration, hence you see the scaffolding. Inside?A must-see on your trip to Paris.Do take the Metro!

Travel has become part of who I am personally and professionally. I always did adore seeing all those places I read about as a child, the Tower of London, the Acropolis, Ephesus, Paris, Verdun. But the joy has multiplied in the past ten years as I am able to visit places that bring much more gratification to me than a nod to a bucket list. Always intrigued by the details of incidents in history, I have found a way to travel that gives me a sense of depth and accuracy to the plots and characters in my novels.

Here are a few pictures that give me that little shiver up the spine. In October, when my husband and I went to Paris for two weeks, the very first place we went was the Basilica at Saint Denis.

This gorgeous Gothic church, the first of its type, sits in the northern outskirts of Paris. Yes, you can and should take the Metro to go. As you can see, they are doing major renovations by sandblasting the exterior to give it a "wash" of its soot. Inside, it is quite lovely and the items in there are breath-taking.

While I leave it to you to go read a history of the church and its innovative architecture, I will tell you what seeing this meant to me.

I loved the small exhibit to the side of the church, filled with ancient (we are talking 4-6th century stones from first construction) items. I was intrigued too by the manner in which this cathedral became the burial place for all French kings and many of their nuclear and extended families.

Louis XIV's crypt in wall.

Louis XIV is buried here, along with his ancestors and descendants. His crypt with inscription in the
stone wall seems a small but (forgive the word) egalitarian way to bury the man who was anything but an equalizer. So many kings and queens are buried here, I could have spent the entire day and night and next one there. But then, it is Paris and one must dine...and so you see that I do have a few priorities when I go hunting.

One absolutely exquisite stone crypt was that of Henry II and his queen Catherine de Medici. No picture of that here of mine, alas. Every time I thought I had a clear shot? BAM. Someone stepped in to admire it. And worthy of that, it is.

A long view of the floor of the cathedral givesyou a sample of the enormous number of royalty buried here.

I give you instead one just as grand, that of Francis I and his first wife, Claude of France. Supposedly, the representation of Francis is true to life. Let me just say that if this is true, Francis was a giant! His feet alone give testament to that. The other arresting feature of this ensemble is the manner in which Claude has her head thrown back against her pillows as if she's in torment. Francis certainly gave her a good run-around with all his affairs, personal and other. So perhaps this attitude of hers is representative of her throes in life! His own attitude is one that many art historians say is indicative of sculpture imitating the dying Christ.

Francis I and his wife Claude of France in their crypt.

Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette.

The most poignant sculptures are the effigies of Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette praying. These two are in the main chapel, but their remains and those of any relatives salvageable after the Terror are in repose in the central crypt below the high altar. Here, beneath a huge black granite stone, they lay.

My last picture for you is one of the outer ramparts. After seeing so many gothic churches in one trip, I am becoming a big fan of gargoyles.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

EPICon-2015

March 12 - 14, 2015

Call (800) 345-9285 and use discount code 031115EPIC or book online and use discount code EPICON

Workshops

Book production from A to Z - David Wilk Starting with the raw manuscript, publishers go through a long list of steps to end up with a finished print and/or digital publication. In this two hour workshop, we will cover every element of the editorial and production process, resources writers must access, budgeting, workflow, new and emerging tools and technologies, and tips for saving time and money while producing books that meet commercial standards. We will talk about digital and traditional printing, ebooks, both reflowable and fixed layout, childrens' books, enhanced ebooks, HTML5, and more.

Cover Copy: Getting Your Hooks in Deep - Jeff Seymour Indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own, over the course of his career. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks and how to fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring a synopsis! We’ll work together to create cover copy for someone’s book over the course of the workshop.

Crafty Business for the Working Writer - Carol Berg Whether writing fiction, non-fiction, long or short, a professional writer has responsibilities to publisher, agent, reader, and self. Many are related to communication, design, or scheduling. But professional responsibility must also include the craft of writing itself. This workshop will explore those sometimes uncomfortable lanes where the business of writing and the craft of writing intersect.

Distribution, Sales, Marketing - David Wilk In this two hour workshop, we will discuss the complete range of critical functions that publishers, and authors who publish must know about in the areas of distribution, sales, marketing, PR, and even social media and websites. We will talk about how the trade book industry works, who the players are, what they do, what works best for publishers and authors who publish, and especially, what you need to know and do in order to be as successful as possible, whether you are publishing in print, digital or both, whether you have one book to sell or 100.

How to Hit the Bestseller Lists with Ebook Preorders – Jim Azevedo Preorders represent one of the most exciting new tools for indie ebook authors and publishers. In this session, you will learn how preorders work, and how to plan, stage and execute a successful preorder strategy. The recommended preorder strategies in this session are grounded in professional publishing best practices that will help make any ebook launch more successful. Attendees will hear recent case study examples of how indie authors have used preorders to increase sales rank and visibility, and will leave the session equipped with knowledge that they can put to immediate use.

How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon - Penny C. Sansevieri Amazon is a great place to sell books, but most authors don’t realize that Amazon has an internal sales machine that will actually help you market your book, for free, if you trigger it? It’s called their internal algorithm and, not that dissimilar from ranking on Google, Once Amazon’s algorithm kicks in, you could see a boatload of free promotion come your way from Amazon.

Indie, Digital, or Traditional?: Whom to Submit What To and Why - Jeff Seymour In the smash-bang explosion of the digital revolution, writers have more choices than ever in deciding whom to submit their work to. In this workshop, indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the independent, digital, and traditional models; evaluating the market for your story and choosing the model that fits it best; and the benefits to the author of an all-of-the-above approach. He’ll also talk about why, despite his work as an editor for a digital-first imprint of a major house, he chose to publish his first book independently; why he may not make that choice for his next book; and what he’s learned on both sides of the indie/traditional divide.

Practical Marketing Advice - Jennifer Fusco In this interactive session, authors and others will learn how to hook new readers to sell their book in four easy sentences. Learn the differences in marketing strategies and how to apply each to grow a readership. This session will also cover an in depth discussion of brand and brand management techniques. Learn the differences between a publicist and an author’s assistant (no, they’re not the same thing). And discuss lessons learned from Corporate America and how they apply to authors, as well as, the future of author marketing and what lies beyond what we already know.

Super Fans - The Secrets to Selling More Books - Penny C. Sansevieri At the end of the day, for all of the marketing we do, for all of the Tweeting, Facebook-ing, and blogging we really just want to know if it’s paying off. Does any of this sell books? This session will teach you not only how to identify your exact right market, but how to effectively and efficiently go after them and turn fans into SUPER FANS.

The Author /Publisher Marketing Partnership - Jennifer Fusco and Molly HarperThis panel discussion is guaranteed to shed light on the workings of the author/publisher marketing relationship. Join bestselling paranormal romance author, Molly Harper, and Market or Die Author Services, JenniferFusco as they talk about marketing support provided by the publisher and what the author is expected to do for themselves.

The Juggling Act – Writing For More Than One Publisher - Cindy Myers Writing for multiple publishers allows you to write different kinds of stories, reach more readers and increase your income. Learn how to manage multiple deadlines, juggle release dates, handle promotion, and head-off potential conflicts. Author Cindy Myers, who has written more than 55 books for seven different publishers, shares tips and techniques for dealing with the demands of writing for more than one publisher – including how to combine self-publishing with other writing obligations.

Outsmarting the Clock – Time Management For Writers (and other publishing professionals.) - Cindy Myers Whether writing is your full-time job or a part-time passion, finding time to put the words on page – not to mention for editing, promotion, and other business tasks – can be a challenge. In this workshop, prolific author Cindy Myers offers tips and techniques for finding more time to write and making the most of the time you do have. We’ll talk about targeting time-wasters, defeating procrastination, dealing with distractions, getting your family on your side, knowing when and what to delegate, and look at some writing exercises that could up your productivity and creativity.

Social Media Strategies for Authors and Publishers - John Warren For authors and publishers, social media offers a way to connect directly with audience. Social media is about adding value—for your stakeholders and audience. In this workshop, we’ll discuss successful social media strategies that address social and strategic goals, from a “digital strategy” that involves broadcasting commercial messages to a true “social strategy” that seeks to reduce costs or increase customers’ willingness to pay. We will review different platforms will help authors and publishers to achieve diverse goals, assess ways to rethink organizational structure and roles; examine techniques to become familiar with your customers’ and competitors’ social media habits; and assess tools for social media analytics. This is a “flipped” workshop and includes a assignment to do prior to the workshop: choose two publishers—one trade or general interest publisher and one academic, professional, or nonprofit publisher—and follow their activities on at least two and preferably three social media platforms—such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr—for at least two weeks, preferably more. Be prepared to discuss the nature of their activities and your perception of the effectiveness of these publishers’ social media strategies during this workshop.

Writing a World That Works - Carol Berg A vivid sense of place helps any story come alive. Whether your story is set in modern day Chicago or a medieval kingdom that wars with dragons, the characters in your story are going to be interacting with a world you create. What must you consider when setting your adventure, mystery, fantasy or thriller in a world that is not contemporary USA? We'll discuss the building blocks of believable societies, avoiding cliches, common world-creation mistakes, and evocative writing techniques.

Zen and the Art of Metadata Maintenance - John Warren Metadata is the lifeblood of publishing in the digital age and the key to discovery. Metadata is a universe, a continuum of standards, and a process of information flow; the process of creating and disseminating metadata involves both art and science. This workshop we will examine the theory and practice of metadata, from the basics of quality metadata construction and management, steps for analyzing your metadata process and instilling continuous improvement steps, programs such as BISG’s Product Certification Program, practical applications for publishers and authors such as keywords, metadata issues for ebooks, and the “frontiers” of the ever-evolving metadata universe. Metadata permeates and enables all aspects of publishing, from information creation and production to marketing and dissemination and an understanding of metadata is essential for publishers, authors, and all those involved in the publishing industry.

REGISTER NOW! Join the Fun and learn how to be the best author you can be!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Hubs and I are beyond excited to announce the
release of the fourth and final book in our Riders Up series, set in
the horse racing industry. If you didn’t know already, both my husband and I
love horses, and have been privileged to own them once in a while. The Arabian
on the cover wasn’t ours, but easily could have been. Ransom, the featured
horse in this book, is based on a very real half-Arab, half-saddlebred horse we
owned. My husband began his ground training when Ransom was still very young
and worked with him until he was two, when we had to sell him for health
reasons. Here are a couple photos of him – one as a new foal, and one at age ten:

We had no clue the honey-russet color we loved when
he was tiny would turn out white, but he looks just like his daddy in the
second photo. A side note – the photo in the pasture was taken when we visited
our friends where he is stabled. He hadn’t seen us for over seven years, but he
came when we called.

That kind of loyalty – and the gentle, patient
training that fostered it – are central to the story line in Detour Ahead. Our
heroine, Traci Steele, was raped as a teenager, and has yet to transform from
being a victim to being a survivor. Here’s the blurb:

Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly
keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell
she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month
R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help
their rancher friend as a private investigator.

Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler
Scott McCord much prefers working with the race horses he trains at his ranch,
and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with
horse troubles.

The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around
the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as
tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love
a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her - like he does his horses - before she
flees in panic?

REVIEWS

Night
Owl Reviews Top PickThis is a story about letting
go of your past so you can move on to your future. It is a story about letting
go of being the victim and becoming a survivor…Add into this touching story of
recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got
a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi

You Gotta Read Reviews Rich in
romance and suspense, this book had me mesmerized from the first page. I was
definitely drawn toward the main character, Traci, and all of the emotional
barriers that she faced… a sensational job of combining just the right amount
of suspense with a sauciness that leaves you longing for more. Run, don’t walk
to your nearest book store for this sensational book. Val

Scott McCord stood at Traci’s emergency room bedside. He must look a
mess. A nurse had already asked if he wanted a sedative. Hell, no. He wasn’t going to soften his guilt with drugs.

God damn, how had it happened? He replayed the scene over and over again.
He still couldn’t understand it. One minute Traci and the horse had been
working together as a team, and the next she was tossing about like a child’s
rag doll.

Until she landed in the dirt. He hadn’t been able to move fast enough.
Her words and the magnitude of her distress had temporarily paralyzed him.
Without a doubt, this accident involved more than a woman learning how to ride
a horse. But she was his responsibility, and he’d let her down.

So there Traci Steele lay, ashen, but breathing steadily. The doctor said
nothing was broken. There were no apparent internal injuries. She’d be bruised
some. And they’d want to keep her overnight to check her for a concussion.

He followed behind the gurney when they moved her from emergency to the
second floor. No one seriously challenged his presence. Since he didn’t know
about her insurance carrier, he’d signed to cover financial responsibility.
Looking at the pale woman, who was becoming a bigger mystery every day, he knew
she wouldn’t be pleased he’d taken over. But they could straighten things out
later.

During the night, Traci came to enough to complain to a nurse about the
IV, but he could tell she still had little understanding of where she was or
what had happened.

Scott dozed off and on until sunshine bounced off his closed eyelids.
Sputtering, cussing himself for having fallen asleep, he pushed himself up in
his chair and looked at his patient. She stared back at him with a wan smile on
her lips.

Leaping to his feet, Scott fumbled for words. She held out her hand to
him; he clasped it between his own.

“Hi,” Traci said, softly. “You don’t look so good.”

“Maybe.” Scott ducked his head so she wouldn’t see the moisture forming
in his eyes. “You don’t look quite ready to walk down a fashion show runway,
either.”

“You’re in the regional hospital. The doc wanted to keep you overnight
for observation. They couldn’t find anything wrong other than being knocked
out. Do you remember what happened?”

He watched the competent lawyer withdraw behind shuttered eyelids. Her
body quivered and then gradually calmed. She stared at him with renewed energy.
“Yes, I remember. It wasn’t Cory’s fault.”

“No, I should have--”

“It wasn’t your fault, either. It’s hard to explain. I lost control of
Cory. And then I got into a terrible place, and I lost control of myself.” She
smiled weakly. “But I’m alive. I’ve survived worse.” Traci squeezed his hand.
“Please don’t blame yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“So are you going to tell me about it? Somebody hurt you badly.” His
fingers curled into a fist.

ABOUT ADRIANA KRAFT

Award-winning author Adriana Kraft is really two people, a husband-wife
team writing sizzling romantic suspense and erotic romance. With backgrounds in
criminology and counseling, they combine their expertise in the criminal mind,
trauma, healing and human nature with a passion for robust sexuality and
life-long vitality. Together they have published over thirty romance novels and
novellas to outstanding reviews. Long and Short Reviews: “scorching
hot…refreshing...something to read when you want straight up hotness.” Romance Junkies: “filled with warmth,
blazing hot sex, well-developed characters…not for the faint of heart.”Romantic pairings include
straight m/f, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, in both contemporary and
paranormal settings.